Leitzmann et al. prospectively examined physical activity recommendations and risk of total mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, and cancer mortality in a very large study sample of 252,925 men and women aged 50 to 71 years in the National Institutes of Health-American Association of Retired Persons Diet and Health Study. Compared to inactive participants, those who met recommendations for moderate physical activity had a 27% lower risk of total mortality, a 29% lower risk of CVD mortality, and a 13% lower risk of cancer mortality. Participants who met recommendations for vigorous physical activity had a 32% lower risk of total mortality, a 33% lower risk of CVD mortality, and a 13% lower risk of cancer mortality. These observations were similar across sex, age, race, educational level, smoking status, body mass index, and television watching categories. These results further reinforce the need to apply current guidelines, which recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week or at least 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity three times a week. The authors also stress the importance of increasing physical activity levels in sedentary individuals in order to help decrease mortality risk.
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